2002-03-11_REVISION - M1979205 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Reclamation Report R~~trVED United Companies of Mesa County MAR 1 12002 MMM/Chambers Pit {Permit # M-1979-205, AM-1) Otu1.^,fnn ~t Minerals and Geology March 2002 United Companies is the operator of this gravel pit. It is a regular 112 permit that was issued originally on August 15, 1980. Amendment 1 was approved on August 31, 1998 and is the last change to the permit documents. As stated in the application for Amendment 1 and approved by the Division, the post mining land use for this area is rangeland. However, this is not a complete statement of what is expected by United Companies and the landowners for this property. There have been a number of buildings and other developed features located at the western part of the permit area through the life of the mining operation. The landowner has intended that these areas will remain in place and continue to be used following the completion of mining and reclamation activity at the site. Evidence for this position includes Exhibit C (Pre-mining/Mining Plan Map) and Exhibit F (Reclamation Plan Map) of the Amendment 1 application. Both of these maps show the office and shop buildings as well as the camper spaces. Also shown on both maps are the access road and adriveway/parking area around the camper spaces. Another reference to both the office building and the camper spaces is made in a part of Exhibit C text on page C-1 where the last paragraph contains the sentence, "Additionally, there is a Recreational Vehicle park located on the bank of the Colorado River south of the Operator's office." Finally, an inspection was done on July 15, 1997 as part of the Division's need to establish the financial warranty amount for the operation. The CDMG Inspector requested that the Operator provide a map of the site showing "what portion of the site will be retained for industrial use (permanent yard area, including buildings) and what acreage needs to be reclaimed as grazing or rangeland." A map was provided to the Division that shows the requested information. A copy of this map was also submitted (August 1997) to the Division as part of the Annual Report for that year. Although Rangeland is the only post-mining land use listed in the Reclamation Plan, United Companies contends that there has been an understanding that certain parts of the permit area were to be used for other purposes. Specifically, the office building, maintenance shop building and the ]and surrounding them would continue to be industrial facilities. Also, the camper sites were intended to continue as camper sites. Based on this understanding of the post mining land uses, a review of the reclamation of the Phase I area follows. Rule 3 of the Regulations are used as a guide for this report.